In The Sunshower Novels & Stories

Arc 34: Saltwater The outdoor shower is on the side of the beach house. Slatted wood walls open to the sky. The showerhead runs warm from a full day of August sun on the pipes. The sky above is going amber at the edges, the sun dropping toward the water, and I am standing under the warm stream washing sand from my skin and my hair when the wooden door opens. He fills the frame. Sand on his forearms. Salt drying in his hair. He takes me in, standing under the warm water in the amber light, and something in his expression does what it has been doing all weekend, shifting from composed to decided, and he steps inside and pulls the door shut.

Alessandro repeated under his breath, like a curse. And then — just like that — the air shifted again. From lunch. To business. To blood. As it always did.

Hailey's pov; On Saturday morning, As i was waiting for Alex in the cafe, I ordered myself an iced Americano and sipped it while looking out onto the street. The sky was dark and heavy with clouds, and a chill hung in the air. A few drops of rain had already begun to fall, leaving tiny glistening trails on the pavement. I nervously watched as more started to come down, feeling anxious about my fear of stormy rain. I don't want to embarrass myself in front of Alex. Or should I head back home quickly after cancelling the plans with Alex.

Ystal strides through the village, reaching the small center, characterized by the presence of some dry shrub, delimiting a small recreational area; usually, on summer and spring afternoons, the children played noisily, drawing upon themselves the calmed and saddened glances of their parents and fellow villagers. After all, everyone knew that sooner or later, at least half of them, would disappear in some Purge.

For them, human was fated to die, be it from plagues or wars. “Oh, my sun! My powerful sun! Please show my baby the way back home!” Even though the old lady bathed in the sun until her skin cracked, the god would never hear her. Still, as she passed by, this time, Sierra put down a bottle. “Ma’am, at least drink a water-“ “No! No!” The old lady shushed her away, “The god of sun won’t like it if I drink and eat! This is the only way for him to hear my prayers!”

I close my eyes, focusing on her fingers soothingly stroking my hair and the comforting rhythm of her heartbeat. Raven Anita had fallen asleep on my chest as light rain pitter pattered against the windows. The trauma of that night still haunts her. Storms, like the one that just passed triggers PTSD attacks. I’m the only one who can calm her down. She’s been to an odd number of therapists but none of which can help her.

His arms wrapped around me in a warm, protective embrace, holding me close and safe. "I'm here," he whispered into my hair, his voice breaking as he spoke, his words raw with promise. "Always." And for the first time in days, I let myself believe it. I let myself lean into him — into us — and let the world outside fall away. No matter what storm waited for us in the shadows, No matter what secrets still lingered beyond our reach, We would face them, together, with all our might. * The sunlight poured gently through the cracks in the curtains, warming the hardwood floors and bathing the bedroom in a soft, golden glow. It felt so good to wake up without the usual dizziness or nausea! I'm just

But the more I pulled, the more complicated everything became. At midnight, my phone buzzed again. *“The mirror shows what’s hidden. Look closer.”* I glanced at my reflection in the windowpane. The woman staring back at me was pale and exhausted, but her eyes burned with a quiet determination. Slowly, I moved closer, finger trailing the cold glass. And then I saw it — a flicker, subtle but unmistakable. A shadow moving just behind my reflection, a shape that didn’t belong. My heart skipped. ---